Table of Contents
- The Sky Route to Central Asia Finally Opens from Busan
- Qanot Sharq Airlines Launches Twice-Weekly Flights from Busan to Tashkent
- Introduction of A321neo… High-Efficiency Eco-Friendly Flights
- Airfare Prices and Visa Benefits
- Strategic Route Reflecting Regional Economic and Industrial Demand
- Testing Gimhae Airport's International Capacity
- Conclusion: A New Turning Point for Regional Sky Routes
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Sky Route to Central Asia Finally Opens from Busan
In June 2025, Gimhae International Airport in Busan will open a new direct flight route to Central Asia. This will be the first sky route connecting to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from a domestic regional airport.
This route will be operated by Qanot Sharq Airlines and is expected to play an important role in facilitating complex exchanges in various fields such as local industry, tourism, and logistics beyond just air travel.
Qanot Sharq Airlines Launches Twice-Weekly Flights from Busan to Tashkent
On June 4, 2025, Qanot Sharq Airlines began a new direct flight route connecting Gimhae Airport and Tashkent.
For the month of June, the flights will operate only on Sundays, and from July, the frequency will increase to twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays. This route is approximately 5,165 km long, making it the longest international route currently operated from Gimhae Airport.
The flight schedule is as follows:
Flight HH826 departs from Busan to Tashkent, leaving Gimhae Airport at 1:40 PM every Wednesday and Sunday, arriving at 6:00 PM local time. Meanwhile, flight HH825 returns from Tashkent to Busan, departing at 12:50 PM local time every Wednesday and Sunday and arriving at Gimhae Airport at 11:30 AM.
The total flight time is approximately 7-8 hours, and the modern Airbus A321neo, which is suitable for medium to long-haul flights, will be used.
Introduction of A321neo… High-Efficiency Eco-Friendly Flights
Initially, Qanot Sharq Airlines planned to deploy the A330-200 aircraft, which is suitable for long-distance flights. However, it was changed to the 220-seat A321neo to match the initial demand.
The A321neo is equipped with LEAP-1A engines, which provide excellent fuel efficiency. As a result, it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 15% compared to previous aircraft, making it both an eco-friendly and economical aircraft.
Airfare Prices and Visa Benefits
The one-way airfare for this route is approximately between 330,000 to 350,000 KRW, with the lowest fares found around 340,000 KRW through real-time searches on sites like Skyscanner.
Additionally, Tashkent allows 30 days of visa-free entry for Korean tourists, making it accessible for both business and tourism.
Qanot Sharq Airlines is an independent airline that does not belong to major airline alliances such as SkyTeam, Star Alliance, or Oneworld. As a result, there is no code-sharing or mileage partnerships with Korean Air, so it is important to note that mileage accumulation and partnership benefits are limited.
Strategic Route Reflecting Regional Economic and Industrial Demand
The newly established route is a result of a strategic project by the city of Busan and the Korea Airport Corporation to expand exchanges with Central Asia.
It is expected to significantly assist companies in Busan and Gyeongnam, which have developed shipbuilding, machinery, and logistics industries, in entering the CIS market, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Moreover, the increasing demand for technical cooperation related to the growing automotive and parts industry in Central Asia is also set to positively impact the activation of this route.
If the demand for foreign workers and international students stabilizes at over 40,000 per year, the airport is expected to consider increasing the frequency to more than three times a week and converting to dedicated cargo flights.
Testing Gimhae Airport's International Capacity
The opening of this long-haul route is an important opportunity to assess Gimhae Airport's infrastructure and long-haul response capability. Improvements in terminal expansion and runway efficiency will be necessary, and strengthening the international capacity of Gimhae Airport until the opening of Gaduk New Airport is expected to become a key factor in the region's aviation industry.
Some travel agencies are planning transit products to Istanbul, Turkey, and Dubai, UAE, using Tashkent as a layover. These efforts could serve as a stepping stone for expanding the long-haul network from Busan, and it is suggested that various routes may be added depending on the operational performance of Qanot Sharq Airlines.
Conclusion: A New Turning Point for Regional Sky Routes
The establishment of the direct flight route connecting Busan and Tashkent by Qanot Sharq Airlines marks a new milestone for international routes from regional airports.
This is also an important experiment aimed at positioning itself as a trade and tourism hub with Central Asia.
If initial demand stabilizes and the regular routes expand while a cargo and transit network is well established, Busan could solidify its position as a new gateway airport linking Northeast Asia and Central Asia.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. When will the direct flight route connecting Busan and Tashkent start operating?
The direct flight route connecting Busan and Tashkent began operations on June 4, 2025.
The direct flight route connecting Gimhae International Airport in Busan and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was newly established by Qanot Sharq Airlines from June 4, 2025. Initially, it will operate only on Sundays, but from July, it will be increased to twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays. This route will cover approximately 5,165 km, making it the longest distance among international flights from Gimhae Airport, and is expected to play an important role in expanding regional exchanges.
Q. What type of aircraft will be used on the Busan-Tashkent route?
Qanot Sharq Airlines will operate the fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo.
Initially, the plan was to deploy the A330-200, suitable for long-distance flights, but it was changed to the 220-seat Airbus A321neo to meet initial demand. The A321neo is equipped with LEAP-1A engines, which reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 15% compared to previous models, thus being both eco-friendly and economical. It is suitable for medium to long-haul flights and is appropriate for the Busan-Tashkent route.
Q. What are the prices for direct flights from Busan to Tashkent and the visa benefits?
One-way tickets are priced around 330,000 to 350,000 KRW, and Tashkent allows 30 days of visa-free entry for Korean tourists.
The one-way airfare for this route is set between approximately 330,000 and 350,000 KRW, with the lowest fares being found around 340,000 KRW through real-time searches on sites like Skyscanner. Additionally, Tashkent allows 30 days of visa-free entry for Korean tourists, making access good for both business and tourism. However, since Qanot Sharq Airlines is not affiliated with major airline alliances, mileage accumulation and partnership benefits are limited.
Q. What impact will this new route have on the Busan regional economy?
It supports the overseas expansion of Busan's shipbuilding, machinery, and logistics industries as exchanges with Central Asia are expanded.
The Busan city government and Korea Airport Corporation established this route as a strategic project to expand exchanges with Central Asia. It is expected to significantly aid companies in Busan and Gyeongnam, especially those in the shipbuilding, machinery, and logistics sectors, in entering the CIS market, which includes Uzbekistan. Furthermore, increasing demand for technical cooperation with the automotive and parts industry in Central Asia is anticipated, and based on stable demand for foreign workers and international students, considerations for increasing flights and converting to dedicated cargo planes are also in progress.
Q. What does this route mean for strengthening the international capacity of Gimhae Airport?
It presents an important opportunity to assess Gimhae Airport's long-haul international route infrastructure and operational capabilities, fostering the development of the local aviation industry.
The opening of this long-haul flight route is an important opportunity for Gimhae Airport to strengthen its international flight capabilities until the opening of Gaduk New Airport. Infrastructure improvements such as terminal expansion and runway efficiency are required, and travel agencies are planning transit products through Tashkent to Istanbul and Dubai. These efforts are expected to serve important foundations for the expansion of the long-haul network departing from Busan and to boost the development of the local aviation industry.